The FDA has issued a public health advisory regarding the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) associated with use of efalizumab (Raptiva®) for the treatment of psoriasis.
Rate control vs rhythm control for atrial fibrillation continues to be debated with most of the evidence falling on the side of rate control in recent years, primarily because of adverse effects from anti-arrhythmics. A new drug may change that however.
I recall rounding on the oncology ward as a medical student. The prognosis in those days was bad for nearly every patient. Children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were expected to live less than one year. Adults with acute myeloblastic leukemia, less than three months. What a difference in the past three decades.
With longer survival, however, there are more patients presenting with life-threatening emergencies related to their treatment and tumor.
This second part concludes our discussion of acute appendicitis, focusing on three patient populations where the diagnosis can be challenging and imaging modalities are commonly used: the elderly, children, and pregnant women.